Gauging-device actuated light-beam responsive selecting apparatus



April 1948. E. F. MARTINEC 2,439,406

GAUGING-DEVICE ACTUATED LIGHT-BEAM RESPONSIVE, SELECTING APPARATUS April1 1948. E.A'F. MARTINEC 2,439,406

GAUGING-DEVICE ACTUATED LIGHTBEAM RESPONSIVE, SELECTING APPARATUS FiledMarch 15, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I llZ e /o 921 mg Patented Apr. 13, 1948GAUGING-DEVICE ACTUATED LIGHT-BEAN! RESPQNSIVE SELECTING APPARATUSEugene F. Martinec, Cleveland, Ohio Application March 15, 1943, SerialNo. 479,241

31 Claims. 1

This invention relates to gauging instruments and may comprise as a unita completely enclosed device with control circuits enclosed in the unit.

It has for an object to provide a simple and effective device foraccurately gauging various parts or elements, and one which can beemployed tooperate an indicating means, either visible, audible, elementsorting or separating, and the like.

It is also an object to provide a device of this character in which theindicating or translating means is controlled by interruption of a lightbeam which offers no resistance to movement of an element, such as theindicating arm of a gauging means, which is shifted or positioned by theelement or part being gauged, so that there is nothing the controllingmeans to affect the position determined by the dimensions of theelement, and therefore the indicating or translating means will notaffect the accuracy of the indication.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which willinsure sufiicient time in the gauging operation for low-price highinertia translating equipment controlled by said gauging operation tofunction accurately and positively under all conditions.

It is another object to provide such a device which may be constructedand assembled as a small unit, which may be assembled and adjustedindependently of its application and may be mounted as such unit On anapplication locating support in position for gauging desired parts orelements involved, and at the same time may be used in connection withthe device with which it is so located to control operation of suchdevice on the elements to be gauged to maintain them accurately withinpredetermined small limits.

Another object is to provide a device which can be used for counting thenumber of measuring units that a part'being gauged varies from somegiven size and also can be used to sort them according to size, andfurther can be used to accept parts having certain tolerances, or can beused to give any type of signal based on the size of the part beinggauged, as Well as being able to translate through various meansadjustment to the machine producing the parts being gauged, whichadjustment depends on the size of the gauged parts.

Still another object is to provide a device of this character in which asimple indicating arm or pointer may be used and thus without increasein weight which would be required if the tip of the indicating arm werewidened or increased in size. This is desirable as any unnecessaryweight added to the arm, especially at the tip, increases its inertia,causing excessive wear on the gauging mechanism and also slowing downthe gauging time.

A further object is to provide a device involving a plurality ofcontrolled circuits in which the correct circuit for connection totranslating equip rent, depending on the size of the parts being gauged,is selected directly by a scanning shutter arm cooperating with theindicating arm so that no extra stepping or selecting switch isnecessary.

Still another object is to provide a, construction with which it ispossible to have a small sized unit, self-contained, that is capable ofselecting the correct circuit to energize translating equipment, saidcircuit depending on the size of the parts being gauged, andwill alsoprovide means to energize automatic feeding and ejecting equipment sothat the unit is entirely automatic and requires no attention except thefilling of the feeding hopper when necessary.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, I

have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understoodthe invention is not limited to the specific construction andarrangement shown but may employ'various changes and modificationswithin the scope of the invention. These drawings are somewhatdiagrammatical, but show the device in sufiicient detail that theprinciples of construction and operation may be readily understood.

In these drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view and partial section of the assembled device orunit;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on line 22 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the control means looking fromthe right of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section and partial elevation, the sectionbeing substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections and alsoshowing diagrammatically certain elements of the gauging device;

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of the mounting for the selector;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of an operating means for theselector;

Fig. 8 is a part of the electrical diagram showing a somewhat modifiedarrangement;

Fig. 9 is a view of the shutter and electrical position by againtighteningor setting the screw l9.

Mounted in the housing, as for example in the light tight chamber i3, isa light sensitive or photocell element 25, and in the adjacent chamber12 is a light source, such for example as a relatively smallincandescent filament electric light element 25 to provide a'beam oflight to be projected on the cell element 25. Located between the lightelement and the cell element is means for controlling the effect of thelight beam on the cell element, which means is in turn controlled by ameans responsive to variations in the dimensions of the elements to begauged. For this purpose, although various types of gauging or measuringmechanism may be used, I prefer a typical gear type dial gauge 21 whichhas over a good many years of use proved to be extremely durable andaccurate. A satisfactory type of this mechanical gauging element isillustrated somewhat diagrammatically and comprises a movable gaugingstem 28 guided for vertical sliding movement and projecting from thehousing in position to engage the element to be gauged, such as a mastergauge block 2 3 used for setting the device and the elements to begauged and compared with this master block, such for example as acircular element indicated diagrammatically at 2a in Fig. 5. It will beunderstood that this stem need not directly engage the element beinggauged but could engage an intervening member whose position isdetermined by the element so that the position of the stem is determinedby this element. An example of such an arrangement is disclosed in mypending application filed of even date herewith, Serial Number 479,243,now Patent No. 2,376,372, dated May 22, 1945. This movable stem 28 isconnected by a rack is and suitable gearing 3! with an indicating arm 32pivoted at 33, the gearing being such as to step up or amplify themovement of the stem 23 to give a much larger movement of the indicatingarm. This arm may move over a suitable indicating dial 3t and have azero setting slot 35 or other indicating means to indicate when it is inzero or any other position over the dial. A spring ss tends to shift thestem 23 downwardly to engage the article being gauged.

The arm 32 is extended to a position between the photocell element andthe light element and is provided with a tip or head portion 31 ofsuitable width positioned to move over an elongated slot 38 in thedividing wall 39 between the chambers l2 and i3 and therefore betweenthe light element 25 and the photocell element 25. Between the head 3'5and the dividing wall 39 is a scanning shutter ii! of arc shape and ofsufficient length to always cover the opening This shutter element 59 ismounted on an arm 3i pivoted to swing about the same center 33 as theindicating arm 32, but is so mounted as to be movable independently ofthe arm 32. This shutter is provided with a slot 42 movable over theopening 38. The upper movement of this shutter is limited by the stop 43which is so arranged that when the shutter is in its upper position theslot 62 is just within the upper edge of the opening 38, as shown inFig. 2. The

lower movement of the shutter is limited by the 6 are so located thatwhen in its upper position the head 31 covers the slot 42, in theshutter 49 when the shutter is in its upper position, as

shown in Fig. 2, and when the head 37 is in its lowest position it willcover the slot 42 when the shutter is in its lowest position.

The shutter arm ti is extended beyond the pivot 33 to the opposite sidethereof providing a tailpiece l'i which is also a movable electricalcontact and is insulated from the remainder of the arm by the insulatingbarrier 43. This tail or contact il" is adapted to move over andsuccessively contact a series of spaced stationary contacts 39, 5d, atand 52 of which adjacent contacts are spaced to correspond with onemeasuring unit, for a purpose which will later be more fully described.However, when the shutter "i3 is in its upper position and therefore thetailpiece ii is inits lower position, it does not engage any of thesecontacts but is spaced below the lowest contact 49, as shown in Fig. 2.This tailpiece :3? is connected at 53 to the solenoid plunger at so asto move with it, this plunger being operated by a slow moving solenoid55, the plunger 5% including a head 56 operating in a dashpot it! tocause slow and steady or uniform movement of the plunger. This plungeras carries a contact yoke comprising upper and lower insulated fingers58 and fail (Figs 3, 5 and 8) which are spaced vertically from eachother and are arranged to shift a spring contact 6b which is movablebetween upper and lower spaced contacts 5i and 52, and tends by itsspring action to move to its intermediate position. The intermediatecontact til is held against these respective contacts at certain timesin the operation of the device by the permanent magnets 63 and lid, aswill presently be more fully described, these magnets holding thecontact at in engagement with the respective contacts 6! or 62, as thecase may be, until it is positively shifted from the contact when itwill spring into engagement with the other contact, thus giving a quickor snap action.

The wiring system and an example of a device to be controlled thereby isshown diagrammatically in Fig. 5. The example set up of the device shownis a sorting device for sorting out the elements being gauged accordingto size and dcpositing elements of the same size or sizes withinpredetermined limits in the same receptacle, but this is shown merely asan example as the device may be employed to control various devices,such for example as an indicating device, as either visible or audibleindicating means, a suitable sorting or separating mechanism for theelements being gauged, as indicated, or any other desired means. Theterm indicating means is used in a broad sense as meaning any one of anumber of different devices, such for example as a physical indicator,an audible signal, sorting means, adjusting means, and so forth, or anydevice affected or controlled by the reaction of a light-sensitive celldue to interruption or change of the light.

beam.

As shown in Fig. 5, means is provided for automatically feeding a seriesof round elements (for example) 29, tothe gauging position under thegauging stem 28, and then ejecting the individual elements into theproper trough or bin depending on the dimensions of the elements. Thiscomprises a hopper chute 65 leading from any suitable hopper (not shown)and adapted to hold a plurality of elements to be gauged, which are fedone at a time under the gauging stem 28.

I27. 'rhismay be accomplished by spacing the outlet end of'the'tube' 85from an upright back (itfor the gauge bed 23 a distance so that there isroom only-for one element to leave the tube at a time. Beyond thegauging position the bed 23 isprovided with a discharge slot 57 for thepieces after they have been gauged and to which they are shifted fromthe gauging position after being gauged by an automatic device which inthe layout shown comprises a plunger (it operated by the solenoid 69 atthe proper time, as will be described later, the plunger being returnedto and held in the retracted position by a spring it; Associated withthe discharge slot 67 and located beneath it is a selector devicecomprising asector 'il pivoted at 12 on a suitable supporting base orplate 13, and a spring 14 tends to hold the sector in its normal orretracted position shown against the limit'stop l and to return it tothis position after it has been shifted in the sorting operation. Thespring i l may be coiled about the pivot l2, one free arm it engaging apin or abutment i? on thesupport l3 and the other arm 78 engaging asimilar pin or abutment it on the sector, the sector'being controlledagainst too rapid movement by a plunger 89 connected thereto operatingin a dashpot M. The sector ii is provided with any desired number ofopenings 32 to d6 adapted to be' shifted to positions under thedischarge slot til and themselves forming entrances to a plurality ofchutes (not shown) leading to a series of containers' or bins (also notshown).

The hotocell 25 is connected by wiring iii to a suitable amplifier showndiagrammatically at $8 controlling a relay 89 the movable contact fit ofwhich is connected by wirin ti with the stationary contact 62 and whosecooperating stationary contact 92 is connected by wire 92a with thetailpiece 61 of the scanning shutter. A source of electric current isindicated at 93 which may be represented by an attachment plug cap 9d(Fig. 1) which may be plugged into any suitable outlet rec'eptacle'in ashop or factory.

The sector H is shifted to various positions according to themeasurements of the part or element being gauged by means of a'seriesoi'solenoids .95, 9d, 9" and $38, the plunger of each of which isconnectedby a hook 9t withan extension or arm use connected with thesector "H. Each hook, however, is' so arranged thataithough it i mayshift the arm ltd in one direction (to the left as Viewedin Fig. 5) tosWing'thseCtOY'H about its pivot, it Willpermit movementfof the arm inthat direction independent of the hook so that the arm'may be soshifted. by any one of the solenoids independently of the othersolenoids;

As willbe seen from Fig. 5, these solenoids areof different lengths andimpart diiferent throws or distance of movement to their respectiveplunger's to position the various openings 83, 34; 85 and {3.8 under thedischarge slot ti. Thus when thesolenoidi fi is energized, it'will swingthe, sector '59 to position the opening 83' in alignment with the slotAturiliaiy normally open contacts cr sivitclie's I06 are associated witheach solenoid 95 to 93in 8; positionincluding a movable springcoritacttdbe closed by the solenoid plunger when this plunger is shifted-to itsextreme inward or lefthand position, by means of an extension ID"! oneach plunger, to provide a sustaining circuit tomain' tain the currentthrough the solenoid if the relay contacts Stand t2 are opened byenergization ofthe relay 89, one of each of these contacts it being"connected to the lead s1 connected to con tact 62, and the otherconnected with the leads m2,- 193, {M and ice for the respectivesolenoids. The ejector solenoid 69 for the article being gaugedisconnected at one end by a lead III to the contact EH controlled by theyoke 58a and at its other end by lead i E2 to one side of the source ofpowerQ Th movable contacted is connected by lead ll3-to the other sidelid of the source .01 power. I

'Iheheavy'dotted lines Sand H6 in Fig. 5 are drawn to indicate theline'of demarcation between the parts or elements which are mounted inthe assembled unit or instrument, that is, are within the housingiassembly, while the elements below these lines indicate a fieldapplication outside of the instrument itself and to which the instrumentmay be readily connected, as forexample by the plug-in cap Ill (Fig.1)'to which the leads It! to m5 inclusive and 9!, lil andll2 areconnected and each to one of the series of prongs H8. This cap isadapted to be inserted in a complementaryattaching element or receptaclehaving a socket'icontact' for each prong to continue" the connection ofthese leads to the various solnoidsandother operative elements inthe'sorting device, only a part of the, pr ngs on the detachableconnectionsbeing shown in Fig; 1 as they are not ordinarily arranged ina straight line but on a round body. This detachable connection isindicated in Fig. 5 by the breal; in the leads at the dotted lines I I5and I it.

Operation is as followsi As previously indicated; one part or element 29only drops from the feed or hopper chute 65to the gauging position underthe stem 28L This positions the indicating arm 32 and more particularlythetip or head 37 of this arm in a given position depending on themeasurements of the piece 29 being gauged. Normally with no currentflowing through the slow-acting solenoid 55 the solenoid plunger b'itogether with the contact yoke 58a, and the tailpiece 4'! of theshutterarmyare caused by gravity to drop to or assume theirlowermostfposition"with the tailpiece il' against the limit stop 530; orthe shutter against asirnilar stop 23'. In this position the tailpiecell 'is belowan'dout of engagement with the first or lowest stationarycontact 46, as shown in Fig; 2; When voltage is'applied at the source 33the solenoid 55 is energized; the current flowing through the contact52, the movable spring contact Gt'and th leads H3 and IE4 completingthe'flcircuit. As the tailpiece and the contact y ke'fEiEa are in theirextreme low position, the upperfinger 58 of the yoke is" in positionwhere it; engages the contact til as shown in Fig. 3. and depresses it.so that" it is 'in'erigagement' with the contact 552. The slow-actingsolenoid 55 now begins to slowly pullup the tailpiece 41 of the shutterarm and this action continues until the bottolrrarm 59 of the contactyoke 58a engages the spring contact '53 and pushes it away fromengagement with contact 52 and causes itto' enga'ge theupper contact 6!.The spring contacttil has reniained'in engagement with the contactfiiiduring upward movement of the yoke 5811 because of the permanent magnet64 which has held it in engagement with contact 62 and therefore thecircuit is broken only when .the lower finger 59 engages the contact 6%and shifts it upwardly. The movement of the contact 60 from contact 62to contact 6i occurs instantaneously with a snap action because of thepermanent magnets so that there is no dead time.

As a part 29 to be gauged was under the gang ing stem 23 before thesolenoid 55 started to draw the tailpiece t? of the shutter armupwardly, the indicating arm tip has assumed a measuring positiondepending on the size of the part being gauged and as the scanningshutter 30 moves downwardly the slot M in this shutter passes behind thetip 37 interrupting th light beam which has been passing from the lightsource 26 through the slot 42 and opening 33 to the photocell element25, causing a signal to be transmitted to the amplifier 88 through thewiring 8?. tacts t6 and 92 of the relay 89 to be closed during the timethat the light beam is interrupted by the tip 3'! of the indicator arm.The closing of these contacts on the relay caused any one of thesolenoids 95, 96, Si? and 98 to operate depending on what contact til,5!], M or E2 the tailpiece or contact if of the shutter arm happened tobe on when the light beam was interrupted. As

these contacts 453 to 52 are spaced one measuring I unit apart asrelated to one measuring unit shown by the indicating arm 32, eachcontact represents a difference of one measuring unit in the size of thepart 29 being gauged. Each solenoid 95 to 98 will shift the sector H toposition the proper opening 33 to 86 under the discharge slot 6'! in thegauge plate 23 through which the part 29 being gauged is eventuallyejected by movement of the plunger 63 when the solenoid 69 is energizedby shifting of the contact 65! to engagement with the contact 5| as theyoke 58a reaches its uppermost position. That is, if as shown in Fig. 5the tailpiece contact 41 is in engagement with the stationary contact 59when the light beam is interrupted, the solenoid 97 will be energizedand will shift the sector H to bring the opening stand the correspondingchute (not shown) leading therefrom, into position under and inalignment with the discharge slot 57.

While the solenoid 55 was swinging the shutter arm and drawing thetailpiece contact '41 upwardly, and one of the solenoids (in the exampletaken, the solenoid El) was energized and shifted the trough selector 7!as indicated into the correct position, the selector was retained inthis position even after the tailpiece contact 4'! left the contact atfor this solenoid, because when the solenoid plunger was shifted, inspite of opening of the contacts of the relay 89. the extension iii! onthe plunger of solenoid 97 when it reached the end of its movementclosed the auxiliary contacts ltd, shown at the left end of thissolenoid. This maintains the circuit through this particular solenoid sothat it remains energized and holds the selector trough 7| in thecorrect position until the yoke 58a shifts the contact Gil from thecontact 62 at the end of its upward movement, to break the circuit. Thenas above pointed out, as the contact 60 is shifted to en gagement withthe contact 85, the ejector solenoid is energized causing the plunger 68to shift the piece 253 being gauged from its position under the gaugingstem 28 to the slot 6'! through which it drops and into the properopening in the selector H, in the example described the This photocellamplifier caused the con- 10 opening 85, which has been positioned underand in alignment with this slot, and it will be carried by the chute(not shown) leading from this opening to the correct compartment or binfor the parts having this particular dimension. It will be understoodthe same operation will re sult if during movement of the scanningshutter 40 the light beam is interrupted when the contact t! is inengagement with some other one of the stationary contacts 49 to 52 tooperate the cor responding solenoids to 98 and shift and position theselector H to the corresponding position.

The breaking of the contact between the spring contact ti! and thecontact 62 as the yoke 58a reaches the limit of its upward movementopens the circuit through the solenoid 55 causing the solenoid to bede-energized and it therefore allows the yoke 58a, plunger 54, andtailpiece 41 to move downwardly by gravity to its original lowermostposition ready for operation in a new cycle for gauging a new part 29.As the yoke 58a moves downwardly and reaches its lowermost position, itsupper finger 58 engages with contact Bil and pulls it away from thecontact 65. This breaks the circuit through the ejector solenoid 68,allowing its plunger 68 to be retracted by the spring 78, allowing a newpart 29 for the gauging operation to drop from the chute 65 intoengaging position under the stem 28. When the contact 60 is shifted fromthe contact 62 as the yoke 58a reaches its uppermost position, it alsobreaks the circuit through the solenoid 95 to 98 which has beenenergized (in this case the solenoid 91) to shift the selector 1 I. Thisreleases the selector H and the spring 14 tends to swing it to the leftabout its pivot 12 to its original position shown in Fig. 5. However,this movement is slowed up by the dashpot 8| to which the selector isconnected so.

that the gauged part 29 which has been ejected from the gauging positionby the plunger 68 to the discharge slot 61 has had time to fall into thecorrect opening in the selector H, in the example described above theopening 85.

The selector H is so mounted that in its re tracted or normal position,as shown in Fig. 5, the opening 82 is directly under dischargeslot 61.

This is the position in which none of the solenoids 95 to 98 areenergized. If any one of the solenoids is energized the selector isshifted to bring the corresponding opening under and in alignment withslot 61. i

It will be understood that ther certain arrange ments can be used forperforming various or similar operations noted. For example, the dashpotarrangement 8| can be eliminated from the selector H and instead theejecting solenoid69 can be energized momentarily by the closing of twocontacts just before the yoke 58a breaks contactbctween the springcontact Eli and the contact 62. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 8,

in which it will be seen the upper contact 6i,

shown in Fig. 5, has been eliminated and another contact H9 providedconnected with one side H4.

of the source of power, and a movable contact I20 connected by lead IIIwith the solenoid,

j 98 which has been energized to shift the selector 76 1| could be usedto shift acontact to close the oir uit thr u h the e e s len i i S q aarrangement is shown in Fig. ,19, the device, however, being shown withone solenoid only. Thus the plunger ofthe solenoid 96 is provided with alug I2 l soarrangedthat as the plunger 95s of thesolenoid reaches thecoder itsmovement it-willshiftthe contact iii; of asnitably placedswitch t c os t circ i thro the electo solenoid 6 9 to eject the gaugedpiece, as indicated. A similar arrangement would of course be applied toeach s01enoid95 to 98 to thus ejectthe gauged pieq at pr im ltwill beunderstood from the above description that after the power is onceturned onto the device from the source 93 the action of the sensing i s;eje n and so tin ope at on is entirely automatic and allthatisnecessaryis io theone to e th h p er supp in th feed tube 65 filled atall timeswith partsto be gauged. Any type of photocell amplifier,indicated diagrammatically at 88, controlling thereeyfiflrmay u ws-arran em n ,,'I -he;width of the movable oontacttail piece at 1s,;-?.9wha ere erihe the spa in betw en the stationarycontacts 43 to 52, sothat during movementof thiscontact t ailo e'ceitrwiil always b i e a emet w th at as one or the contac 4915052. If due to the size of the beinggauged, this tailpiece e'lshouldpb idee two or the stationary contactsat the time the slot in the scanning shutter passes the tip ,3! of theindicatorarm to interruptthe light beamthen twoofthe positioningsolenoids so .to 98 would become energized. Ill this case due tothenovelarrangement shown for the linhage between the solenoids 95 tossandtheselector 'l'l this selector would be positioned with its opening 35 tothe under the dischargeslot Bl corresponding to the highest numberedsolenoid energized. For example, if a piece measuring one and one-halfmeasuring units overthe basic size is being gauged it'would be sortedinto thesorting compartment or opening of the selector I lwhich normallytakes apiece measuringhvo units over the basic size.

That is, 'becausejthe contact 4'! would bri ge the two contacts bothcorresponding to one and two units over the basic size, as described,the selector Q'll' would be'shifted to correspond withthe larger or twounits over the basic size solenoid. In' other words, if a part beinggauged is any part over one-half of a measuring unit over a particularsize, it will be sorted into ,the nest highersize of compartment.

Itwlll'le-e seen from Fig. 5 that eachindividual solenoid 95 to 3.8 hasplunger witha different length 'of stroke than that of each of the othersolenoidsthe stroke of each being such that when the stroke .iscompleted the correct opening 8.3 to 5 8 for that particular solenoid isin position under the described openinge'l. If twosolenoids, asexplained above, happen to become energized at fthe'same time becausethe movable contact A?! bridg'e's two stationarycontacts 45.8 to 52,thesoleno'idwith the longer stroke governs the position of th 'eselector ,ll because ofthe one wayhook arrangement 52 connects eachsolenoid with the arm E9 on the selector. That :is, with this hookarrangementany solenoid as to 33 may be energized and its plungershifted to shift the arm ,l iiO and swing the selector ll independentlyof each ofthe other plungers, andthereforefthis hook arrangement wouldpermit the-plunger with the longerstroke to .complete-itsmovement afterthe 'rnol ernent'o'fthe plunger with the shorter stroke 'l'iad beencompleted. Thus, for example,

if thetwo solenoids S' and, Si areenergized the plungersof both of thesesolenoids will be shifted, but as the stroke of the plunger of thesolenoid is longer than that of the plunger of the solenoid :36,although they are both moved together during movement of the plunger ofthe solenoid after the movement of this plunger has been completed theplunger of the solenoid ill will continue movement to the end of itsstroke, drawing the-arm Hill away from the hook on the plunger of thesolenoid .96. This arrangement also permits any individual solenoid tooperate to swing the selector when energized without affecting any oftheother solenoids.

Because of thisarrangement of operating connections; if itshouldbedesired. tohave all the gauged pieceswithin certain tolerances depositedin one sorting bin or vcompartment and eject all the smaller ones intoanother bin or compartmerit, and all those oversizeintoyet another bincrcompartment, thiscan be readily arranged. Let itbe assurred, forexamplait is desired to accept into one bin all pieces ;a givensize,plus those thatvary plus or minus one measuring unit fromthis basicsize, the procedure'would then as fo iowsz The gauging element El wouldbe vadjusting micrometer screv 22 so that the tip 3i of the gauging armwould be in line with th slot 32 inthe scanning shutter when thetailpiece contact 42 on the scanning arm engagesthe second contactEfiifrom the bottom, shown in Fig.9. This contact and the contact 5;immediately above it and the contact 49 imdiatoll/ below it areconnected with each other one the contaot'fio by a simple link orbridging r. nnection' so that when the tail contact 't'l solenoids .(inthis case the solenoid 95, .97 and 98) will be energized. However, thesolenoid having the longest stroke, that is the solenoid 98, will be theone that determines the position of the selector ii and the openingtherein which will be in alignment with the discharge opening Wlin thiscase the opening '86) and therefore determines the bin orcompartment'into which the gauged part will fall. Consequently; allpieces being gauged that are Within plus or minus one measuring unit ofthe basic size represented by the contact .50 will .fall into the samebin. If the piece being gauged is'one unit too large the indicator 3?will 'be' shifted up to a point where the tail piece .6] is belowcontact point 49 and therefore none of the solenoids 95 to 98 will be'energized when the "light beam is interrupted and therefore selector llwill not be shifted and the part will be discharged'through the opening82, which will normally be under the opening 61. Similarly. if the partbeing gauged is one unit too'small the piece being gauged will positionthe stem to the point where the indicating arm ilzis just ready to'liftthe tip 31 of the indicator arm oil stop pin as so that the light beamis interrupted when the tail piece contact 4 is in engagement with uppercontact 52. This will then energize the solenoid 95 to shift theselectorit to bring the opening'ils under the discharge opening El. Thus allthese small pieces will be discharged into the bin orv compartmentcontrolled by this opening 83.

it is to be understood that any desired number of contactsfll) to 52maybe used, four being shown merely by way of example, as well as anyreasonable travel of indicating arm 32 and scanning shutter arm 4!, sothat .parts varying considerably in size can be handled, and that-byelectrisets any one of these three contacts the three cally connectingtogether different combinations of these contacts 49 to 52 anysegregation of parts varying within certain limits can be obtained. Itis also to be understood thatthe drawings are schematic drawings showingthe operating functions of various parts and that there is practicallyno limit as to how the various fundamental parts can be grouped orarranged mechanically, electrically or physically without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

' It is contemplated that in the actual gauge, selecting contacts 49 to52 will be connected to binding posts or other simple devices for makingelectrical connections, so that any other equipment than the selector llshown in these drawings may be utilized and operated by circuits whichare determined by the size of the piece being gauged. For example, thewires leading from contacts 45 to 52 could be connected to various typesof signals or to control adjusting means for machine tools producing theparts being gauged.

It will be clear from the above that this unit can be used for countingthe number of measuring units that a part being gauged Varies from somegiven size; that it can be used to sort them, and it can be used toaccept parts having certain tolerances or give any type of signal basedon the size of the part being gauged, as well as being capable of use totranslate through various means adjustments to the machine producingoperating on the parts being gauged and which adjustments are dependenton the size of the gauged part. It will also be seen this unit utilizesa simple indicating arm or pointer without any material increase inweight, without the necessity of Widening the tip of the arm. This isvery desirable as any unnecessary weight added to the arm, epecially atthe tip thereof, increases its inertia, causing excessive wear on thegauging mechanism and slowing down the gauging time. By the use of thescanning shutter movable independently of the indicating arm, suflicienttime is allowed for high inertia translating equipment to operate. Thecorrect circuit .for connection to the translating equipment dependingon the size of the part being gauged, is selected directly by thisshutter arm itself so that no extra stepping or selecting switch isnecessary. All electrical circuits for controlling the variousoperations of the unit are either controlled by the shutter arm oroperated directly by it, permitting the use of various simpleinexpensive and accurate equipment. With this construction it ispossible to use a small sized self-contained unit that is capable ofselecting the correct circuit to energize translating equipment, saidcircuit depending on the size of the part being gauged, and may alsoprovide means to energize automatic feeding and ejecting equipment sothat the unit is entirely automatic and needs no attention with theexception of filling a feeding hopper with the parts to be gauged whennecessary.

Although this device has been illustrated and described in a set-up forgauging a series of round elements, it is to beunderstood that thisset-up has been given merely as one example of the large number ofapplications for which the device is adapted. In other words, it is notlimited to the application specifically described and illustrated butmay be employed for a large number of different applications andcontrols, Examples of these are shown in Figs. 8 to 1.2 inclusive of mycopendin application Serial No. 479,239, filed of even date herewith,now Patent No. 2,410,093,

dated October 29, 1946. Thesefigures with their descriptions giveexamples of various diil'erent applications in which the device may beused for controlling various devices and effects, and their descriptionand illustration are not included in this application in order tosimplify and reduce the amount of disclosure in the present case andavoid unnecessary repetition.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, means for connectingsaid element with a device to be controlled, a light element positionedto provide a light beam to the cell element, means between the light andthe cell to control the light beam comprising a scanning shutter and amovable member in overlapping relation and mounted for independentmovement, said shutter and member being provided with cooperating meansto control the light beam by relative movement between them, a contactmovable with the shutter, a series of spaced contacts in position to beengaged by the movable contact, a plurality of circuits controlled bysaid contacts, a device controlled by said circuits to affect theelement being gauged, means controlled by the cell controlled means forcontrolling said circuits, means positioned to be affected by theelement being gauged and connected with the movable member to positionsaid member, and means for causing movement of the shutter relative tothe member to control the light beam and shift the movable contact overthe stationary contacts to control the circuits connected therewith.-

2. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a relay controlledby said element, a light element positioned to provide a light beam tothe cell element, a mechanical gauging element including a movablemember located between the light and the cell and means positioned to beaffected by the element being gauged and connected with the member toposition said member, a scanning shutter in overlapping relation withsaid member and movable independently thereof, said shutter and memberbeing provided with cooperating means to control the light beam, aplurality of selecting circuits, a plurality of spaced contactsconnected one to each circuit, a contact movable with the shutter and bysaid movement to engage the first contacts in succession, means forshifting the shutter to control the light beam, and a connection fromthe relay to the movable contact to control the selecting circuits.

. 3. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a relay controlledby said element, a light element positioned to provide a light beam tothe cell element, a movable scanning shutterlocated between the lightand the cell and provided with an opening for passage of said beam, amechanical gauging element including a stem adapted to engage an elementto be gauged and a movable member connected with the stem for locationthereby, said member including a portion adapted to cover said openingin the shutter to interrupt the light beam, a plurality of spacedcontacts, a movable contact connected with the shutter so as to movetherewith and adapted by said movement to successively engage thestationary contacts, a selecting circuit connected with each stationarycontact, a connection from the relay to the movable contact to controlsaid circuits, and means for shifting the shutter and the movablecontact to control said light beam and the circuits.

4. A gauging device comprising a photocell elemerit,;a.r.elay..controlled by said element, a light element positioned toprovide a light beam to the :cell element, a movable scanning shutterlocatedbetween the light and the cell and provided with anopening forpassage of said beam, a mechanical gauging element including a stemadapted to engage an element to be gauged and a movable member connected.with the stem for location thereby, said member including a portionadapted to cover said opening inthe shutter to interrupt the light beam,.a contact connected with the shutter to move therewith, a switchcontrolled by the relay and electrically connected withsaid contact, a.plurality of selecting circuits arranged to be controlled in successionby movement of said contact, and means for shifting the shutter tocontrol said light beam and at the same time shifting-said contact tocontrol said circuits.

5. A gauging device comprising a housing, means for adiustably mountingthe housing on an application locating support, .a photocell elementmounted in the housing, .an amplifier mounted in the housing andconnected with said cell, a relay controlled by the amplifier, a lightelement ,mounte in the housing and positioned to provide a light beam tothe cell element, a mechanical gauging element mounted in the housingincluding a gauging stem projecting from the housing in position toengage an element being gauged and aimovable member connected to saidstem to be operated thereby, said mernber extending to a positionbetween the light and cell, a plurality of stationary contacts in thehousing, means for connecting said contacts to a plurality of circuits,a movable contact the housing adapted to engage the stationary contactssuccession, a switch controlled by the relay and connected to themovable contact to control said circuits, control means connected withthe movable contact to move therewith and adapted to cooperate with themovable member to control the light beam, and means for shifting saidcontact and control means to control the light beam and said circuits.

6. A gauging device comprising a housing, means for mounting the housingon an application locating support, a photocell element in the housing,a light element in the housing positioned to provide a light beam to thecell element, portions of plurality of selecting circuits in thehousing, means for connecting said portions to control means foroperation by said circuits, a movable selecting means in the housingtoselect diiierent circuits, a gauging element in the housing including amovable member positioned to be affected by the element being gauged anda second movable member connected with said first member to bepositioned thereby, means movable with the selecting means adapted tocooperate with the second member to control the light beam, meanscontrolled by the cell to control said selecting means, and means forshifting said selecting means.

7. A gauging device comprising a selector means including a movablemember provided with a plurality of openings for receiving articlesafter they have been shifted from a gauging position and directing themto different containers, means for shifting said member'to differentpositions to locate the respective openings in receiving positioncomprising a plurality-of solenoids operating plungers with differentlengths of stroke, means connecting each plunger to theseleotorimemb'er, a plurality of circuits connected with .saidsolenoids, a mechanical gauging element including a movable memberadapted to be positioned by an articlein the gauging position and .asecond movable member connected with said first roembor'to be positionedthereby, selecting means cooperating with said second member for'energizingthe respective circuits depending on the position of saidmember, and means for shifting the articlefrom the gauging position tothe selector.

8; A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a light elementpositioned to provide a light beam to the cell element, a plurality ofselecting circuits, a movable selecting means adapted to selectdifierent circuits, a gauging element including a movable memberpositioned to be affected by an article in gauging. position and asecond movable member connected with said first member be positionedthereby, means movable with the selecting means adapted to-cooperatewith said second member to control the light beam, means controlled bythe cell to control. said selecting-means, means for-shifting theselecting means, a solenoid controlled byeach circuit, plungers operatedby the respective solenoids having diiferent lengths of travel, aselector including a movable rnember adapted -.to receive the article.afterit is shifted from thegauging posi nand direct it to any one ofja.plu-' rality of different containers, means connecting the-plungerswith said selector member toposition it in'the difierentpositions,andmeansfor shifting the article from the gauging position to theselector.

9. A gauging device comprising aphotocell element, a relay ccntrolledbysaidelemenaalight element positioned to provide alight beam to the cellelement, a movable scanning shutter located between the light and the.cell and provided with an opening for passage of said beam, a mechanicalgauging element including a stern adaptedto engage an element to begauged and a movable member connected with the stem for :locationthereby, said member including a portion adapted to cover said openingin the shutter to'interrupt the light beam, means for feeding articlestoibe gauged to a position under said stem and to shift. the gaugedarticles from the gauging position, a pluralityof spaced contacts, amovable contact connected with the shutter to move therewith. andadapted to successively engage the stationary contacts, a selectingcircuit connected with each stationary contact, a connection fromtherelay to the movable contact to control said circuits, a movableselector provided with a series of open ings adapted to be positioned toreceive the gauged articles after they leave the gauging position anddirect them to different compartments, a solenoid in each Selectingcircuit operating plungers connected to the selector, the saidindividual plungers being arranged to shift the selector difierentamounts to place difierent openings in an article receiving position,and means for shifting the shutter and the movable contact to controlthe light beam and the circuits.

10. A gauging device comprising a photocell-element, a relay controlledby said element, a light element positioned to provide a light beam :tothe cell element, a mechanical gauging element including a movablemember located between the light and the cell and a second movablemember positioned to be afiected by the element being auged andconnected with the first member to position said member, a scanningshutter in overlapping relation withsaidfirst member and moviableindependently thereof, said shutter and first member being provided withcooperating means to control the light beam, a plurality of selectingcircuits, means movable with the shutter for controlling said circuits,means controlled by the relay for controlling the operation of saidlatter means, a movable selector provided with a series of openingsadapted to be positioned to receive the gauged articles after they leavethe gauging position and direct them to different compartments, meanscontrolled by each circuit for shifting the selector and each arrangedto shift said selector a different amount so as to position thedifferent openings in article receiving position, means for s ifting theshutter and movable means to control the light beam and said circuits,and means for shifting the gauged articles from the gauging position tothe selector.

11. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a light elementpositioned to provide a light beam to the cell element, a mechanicalgauging element including a movable member and'a second movable memberPositioned to be affected by the element being gauged and connected withthe first member to position the member, a scanning shutter inoverlapping relation with said first member and movable independentlythereof, said shutter and first member being located between the lightand the cell and provided with cooperating means to control the lightbeam, a plurality of selecting circuits, means movable with the shutterfor controlling said circuits, means controlled by the cell elementconnected with said movable means to control the efiect thereof, amovable selector member adapted to be positioned to receive articlesafter they are shifted from the gauging position and direct them todifierent compartments, a solenoid in each selecting circuit including amovable plunger, each plunger being arranged to have a differentmovement from the other plungers, a one-way connection from each plungerto the selector arranged to permit operation of the selector by eachplunger independently of the other plungers, means for controllingmovement of the shutter and said movable means to control the light beamand said circuits, and means for shifting the gauged articles fromthegauging position to the selector.

12. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a light elementpositioned to provide a light beam to the cell element, a mechanicalgauging element including a movable member'and a second movable memberpositioned to be affected by the element being gauged and connectedwiththe first member to positio said member, a scanning shutter inoverlapping relation with said first member and movable independentlythereof, said shutter and first member being located between the lightand the cell and provided with cooperating means to control the lightbeam, a plurality of selecting circuits, a movable selector providedwith apluralit of openings adapted to be positioned to receive thegauged articles after they leave the gauging position and direct them todifferent compartments, means operated by each circuit to shift theselector and each arranged to shift said selector a different amountfrom those of the other circuits to locate the respective openings inarticle receiving position, a selecting means movable with the shutterto select difierent circuits, means controlled by the cell element tocontrol said selecting means, meansto control movement of the shutterand selecting means, and means to shift the gauged articles from thegauging position to the selector; 1 j i 13. A gauging device comprisinga photocell element, a light element positioned to provide a light beamto the cell element, a plurality of selecting circuits, a movableselector provided with a series of openings'adapted to be positioned toreceive gauged articles after they are shifted from gauging positionanddirect them to different compartments, means operated by each circuitfor shifting the selector and each arranged to shift the selector adifferent amount from each of the other circuits and independentlythereof to locate the respective openings in article receiving position,a movable selecting means adapted to select different circuits, agauging element including a movable member positioned to be afiected bythe article being gauged and a second movable member connected with saidfirst member to be positioned thereby, means movable with the selectingmeans adapted to cooperate with the second member to control thelightbeam, means controlled by the cell to control said selecting means,means for shifting the selecting means, and means for shifting thegauged articles from thegauging position to the selector.

14. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a relay controlledby said element, a light element positioned to provide a light beam tothe cell element, a mechanical gauging lement including a movable memberlocated between the light and the cell and means positioned to beaffected by the element being gauged and connected with the member toposition said member, a scanning member in overlapping relation withsaid first member and movable independently thereof, said members beingprovided with cooperating means to control the light beam, a pluralityof selecting circuits, means movable with one of said members forcontrolling said circuits, means controlled by the relay for controllingthe operation of said latter means, and means for shifting the scanningmember afterthe movable member has been positioned by the positioningmeans to control the light beam and said circuits.

15. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a relay controlledby said element, a light element positioned to'provide a light beam tothe cell element, a mechanical gauging element including a movablemember located between the light and the cell and means positioned to beaffected by theelement being gauged and connected with the membertoposition said member, a scanning shutter in overlapping relation withsaid member and movable independently thereof, said shutter and memberbeing provided with cooperating means to control the light beam, aplurality of selecting circuits, means movable with the shutter forcontrolling said circuits, means controlled by the relay for controllingthe operation of said latter means, a solenoid including a slow actingplunger connected with th shutter for controlling movement thereof andmovement of said movable means, a switch to control said solenoid, andmeans movable with said plunger to control said switch, l

16. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, alight elementpositioned to provide a light beam to the cell element, a mechanicalgauging element including a movable member and means arranged to beafiected by the element being gauged and connected with the member toposition the member, a scanning shutter in overlapping relation withsaid member andmovable independently thereof, said shutter and memberbeing located betweenthelight and the cell and provided withcooperatlngmeans to control the gasses light beam, a pluralityioishe's-ting "circuits, means movable withthe shutter for controlling saidcircuits, means controlled by the cell element connected with saidmovable means to control the effect thereof, and meansfor controllingmovement of the shutter and s'aidlm'ovable means to control the lightbeam and said circuits.

17. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a light elementpositioned to provide a light beam to the cell element, a mechanicalgauging element including a movable member and means positioned tobe-affected by the element being gauged and connected with the member toposition the member, a scanning shutter in overlapping relation withsaid member and movable independently thereof, said shutter beingprovided with an opening fol-passage of the light beam, said memberincluding a portion adapted to cover said opening to interruptth'eligl'it beam, a plurality of selecting circuits, means movable withthe shutter for controlling said circuits, means controlled by the cellelement connected with said movable meansfto control the effect thereofand means for c'ontr'oHing movement of the shutter and said movablemeans to control the light beam and said cir' cu'i'ts.

18. A gauging deviee comprisinga photocell element, a light elementpositioned to provide a light beam to the cell element, a mechanicalgaugiii t i l s ne ev b e. me b r n means positioned to be affected bythe e'leme'nt being gauged and connected withthelmernber to position themember, ascanning -shutterin overlapping relation with said member andmovable independently thereof, said s h utter member being locatedbetweenthe light and the cell and ov d wi h e iie ii ielmeesie centrelthe light beam, selecting means mevable with the shutter, meanscontrolled by thecell element conec d h; e. sele t ng a tisa -.i;control t effect r i end-means 59 Q f 1fi q merit of the hut er n se eei iel i eee e e trol the light beam and the efiect of'said means.

nerat s aspir n e rheie i lement. h, e ement r eii ei eey e f l i e a liht m t e ee l meetani e a ii e iein elemen ine i i 'i e. liiiq ie; me br; nd means positioned to -be aiiecte'd by the element being ai ei i eene iedwithihe m e to position the member, a scanning shutter ove'rlapping relation withsaid member and movable de l tii i o sa d s iie an m mb r being located between'the lightand thecell and provided iee ieer' iii means ie ieen t light beam, a plurality of selectingcircuits, conirel means o rated rie-eel! ,eir ii t e e e i 'e meansmovable with theshutter to select difierent circuits, means controlledby the cell element to control said selecting means, and means tocontrol movement of the shutterand the selecting means. n

20. A gauging device comprising. a Sphotocell element, a light elementpositioned 'to'providea light beam to the cell e1e'ment,.:a plurality ofselecting circuits controlled by :the ;-ce11 element, control meansoperated byg-ach, circuit, a "movable selecting means adapted toselectdifferent circuits, a gauging element including a :movable memberpositioned to be aiTectedby the element being gaugedand:a-secondlmovable-member connected with said. first member tobepositioned thereby, means movable:with theselectingimeans adaptedbyitsmovement tol-cooperatewith said second member to control the :liht; beam-,1-m.eans controlled by the cell to control said selecting 20means, and, means for shifting the selecting means. V v 1 .7 l l 21. Agauging device 'cornprrsing a photocell element, a light element p'osiion'e'd to provide a light beam to the cell element, a plurality ofselecting circuits, control means operatedby each circuit, a movableselecting. means adapted to select different circuits, a gauging elementincluding means positioned tojbe 'affe'cte'dibythe -e1e ment beinggaugedian'd a movable member connected with said means 'to; bepositioned thereby, scanning means movable with the selecting meansadapted to cooperate with thew-movable member to control the light beam,means controlled by the cell to control the selecting means, a solenoidhaving a slow acting pl'ung'er connected with the selecting means forshifting it; a switch forc'o'ntrolling the solenoid, and means movablewith the plunger for operating said switch.

22. A'gaug'ing device comprising a movableselector member adapted .tobe. positioned for directingarticlesfto anyone of a plurality of.different containers, a gauging means-including a movable member adaptedto be positioned by-a'n article in gauging position and a second movablemember connected fwith-said first member to be positioned thereby,'means for shifting the selector member to position iti'n articledirecting position, meanscoopera'tingwith said secondmovable member andconnected with said selector-shifting means to position the selectormember according to the position of said se condmembe'r, and meanscontrolled by said cooperating means for shifting the article beinggauged to the selector member after it is so positioned.

23. A gauging device. comprising a selector means including a movableselector member adapted for directing articlesto, any of a pluralityofdifferent containers and'adapted to receive an article afterit isshifted from thegauging position-, a mechanical-gauging elementincluding a movable member adaptedto be :positionedby an article in thegauging position and a second movable member connected with sa-id firstmember to be positioned thereby, a plurality'ofselecting circuits, meanscontrolled by each circuitfor shifting the selector member to agiven-position, a selecting means for;selecting. the different-circuitsfor operation of the selectormemben-means cooperating-with thesecond-member for controlling the 'operationof said selecting-means,-and means controlled by said cooperating-means for shiftingthe articlebeing gauged from the gaugingposition to the selectormem-ber.

24. A gauging device comprising -a photocell element, -a relaycontrolled by said element, a light element positioned to provide alight beam to the cell element,- a movable scanningshutter locatedbetweenthelightrand thecell'and'provided with an opening for passage ofgsaidgbeam, a mechanical "gauging :element including "a; stem adapted toengage an-element tobezgauged-and ber adapted to receive the gaugedarticles after they leave the gauging position and be positioned todirect them to different compartments, a solenoid in each selectingcircuit operating plungers connected to the selector, the saidindividual plungers being arranged to shift the selector memberdifi-erent amounts, and means for shifting the shutter and the movablecontact to control the light beam and the circuits.

25. Agauging device comprising a photocell element, a relay controlledby said element, a light element positioned to provide a light beam tothe cell element, a movable scanningmember located between the light andthe cell and provided with an opening for passage of said beam, amechanical gauging element including a stem adapted to engage an elementto be gauged and a movable member connected with the stem for locationthereby, said movable member including a portion adapted to cover saidopening in the scanning member to interrupt the light beam, means forfeeding articles to be gauged to a position under said stem and to shiftthe gauged articles from the gauging position, a plurality of spacedcontacts, a movable contact connected with one of said members to movetherewith and adapted to successively engage the stationary contacts, aselector circuit connected with each stationary contact, a connectionfrom the relay to the movable contact to control said circuits, amovable selector member adapted to receive the gauged articles afterthey leave the gauging position and be positioned to direct them todifferent compartments, a solenoid in each selecting circuit operatingplungers connected to the selector, the said individual plungers beingarranged to shift the selector member difierent amounts, and means forshifting the shutter and the movable contact to control the light beamand the circuits.

26. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a relay controlledby said element, a light element positioned-to provide a light beam tothe cell element, a mechanical gauging element including a movablemember located between the light and the cell and means positioned to beafiected by the element being gauged and connected with said member toposition the member, a scanning member in overlapping relation with saidfirst member and movable independently thereof, said scanning member andfirst member being provided with cooperating means to control the lightbeam, a plurality of selecting circuits, means movable with one of saidmembers for controlling said circuits, means controlled by the relay forcontrolling the operation of said latter means, a movable selectoradapted to be positioned to receive the gauged articles after they leavethe gauging position and direct them to different compartments, meanscontrolled by each circuit for shifting the selector and each arrangedto shift said selector a difierent amount, means for causing relativemovement between the scanning member and the movable member to controlthe light beam and said circuits, and means for shifting the gaugedarticles from the gauging position to the selector.

27. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, means forconnecting said element with a device to be controlled, alight elementpositioned to provide a light beam to the cell element, means betweenthe light and the cell to control the light beam comprising a scanningmember and a movable member in overlapping relation and mounted forindependent movement, said between them, a contact movable with one of 7said members, a series of spaced contacts in position to be engaged bythe movable contact, a plurality of circuits controlled by said contactsa device controlled by saidcircuits to affect the element being gauged,means controlled by the cell controlled means for controlling saidcircuits, means positioned to be afiected by the element being gaugedand connected with the movable member to position said member, and meansfor causing movement of the scanning member relative to the movablemember after it has been positioned bysaid positioning means to controlthe light beam.

28A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a relay controlled bysaid element, a

light element positioned to provide a light beam to the cell element, amechanical gauging element including a movable member located betweenthe light and the cell and means positioned'to be affected by theelement being gauged and connected with the movable member to positionsaid member, a scanning member in overlapping relation with said movablemember and movable independently thereof, said members being providedwith cooperating means to control the light beam, a plurality ofselecting circuits, a plurality of spaced contacts connected one to eachcircuit, a contact movable with one of said members and by said movementto engage the first contacts in succession, means for shifting thescanning member to control the light beam after the movable member hasbeen positioned by said positioning means, and a connection from therelay to the movable contact to control the selecting circuits.

29. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a relay controlledby said element, a light element positioned to provide a light beam tothe cell element, a movable scanning member located between the lightand the cell and provided with an opening for passage of said beam, amechanical gauging element including a stem arranged to be affected byan element to be gauged, and a movable member connected with the stemfor location thereby, said member including a portion adapted to coversaid opening in the scanning member to interrupt the light beam, aplurality of spaced contacts, a movable contact connected with one ofsaid members to move therewith and adapted by said movement tosuccessively engage the stationary contacts, a selecting circuitconnected with each stationary contact, a connection from the relay tothe movable contact to control said circuits, and means for shifting thescanning member after the movable member has been positioned by the stemto control said light beam.

30. A gauging device comprising a photocell element, a light elementpositioned to provide a light beam to the cell element, a mechanicalgauging element including a movable member 23; means; to, control the;efiectthereof; and means for controllingmovement. of the scanning mem- 7her to control the light-beam.

31. A gau ing device comprisin a; himsi e v means for mounting thehousingon. an alip flalt ating. s pp t; a; photos-elk elementjin thehousing, a i ht element. in; the hQHSXn-g pos tioned to. rovide. a li htb am 'tothe cell 'ementl portions of a'plurality of selecting circuitsdnthe housing, means for; connecting 53idiDQIti0ll5f to control'means. foroperation by said; irouits; a1

- movable selecting meamdn-the housing; to; select difierent circuits; agauging element; in the housing including meansarranged'to beaffected-by the, element being gaugedy' and a movable member connectedwith saidmeans-tobe; positioned thereby; a scanningmember mounted tomove independently of the movable member, said members being providedWithcooperating. means, to control the light beam, means forshifting thescanning member after-the movable member has been positiqmed by thepositioning, means to control the light: beam,- means connectin saidselecting means-with one; of said members and means YCQH'QFAOHBCIQ bythe cell to control: said s ecting m ans REFERENCES? CITED followingreferences are of'reeord'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

